Chapter 732 Great Figures of the Great Era (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe)
History always undergoes some dramatic changes when people least expect it.
For the reformist government in Tokyo, they just started to open their eyes to the world and did not understand what international politics was. They did not understand that in international politics, many countries could not stay out of the world and were only subject to their own will.
In many cases, the fate of a small country is determined by a big country, and unknowingly, the fate of a small country will be tied to that of a big country. Now Japan has been inevitably involved in the world frenzy. They are only pursuing the so-called dream of prosperity and strength, and they don’t even understand what position Japan occupies in this frenzy.
However, they just made some choices based on their own assumptions, some choices that seemed extremely beneficial to Japan on the surface.
But they don’t know that this choice is sometimes fatal.
Just like now, when they are self-righteously looking for the Ming Dynasty as a shelter, they don’t know that this is what European and American countries are afraid of.
It was also in this unconscious state that they sent Japan to the butcher block and made it the meat on the block. As for Sakagami no Kumo, he was just lying on the butcher block and watching...
In fact, this is the fate of small and weak countries in this world where the strong prey on the weak. It is important for people to know themselves. Do you want to use the great powers to benefit yourself?
When one's strength is weak, all strategies are nothing but jokes. In the face of absolute strength, strategies are not worth mentioning at all.
Just as the wheel of history was moving in another direction with irresistible force.
Osaka.
After the British China Fleet started firing up its boilers and weighed anchor, it slowly sailed in another direction. According to the secret telegram they received, they would meet up with the US Far East Fleet in Yokohama and then jointly put pressure on the Meiji government.
What kind of pressure?
Of course, we ask the Japanese government to effectively protect the safety of expatriates from Britain, the United States and other European countries.
War always requires an excuse, and the same goes for armed intervention.
As the Royal Navy's Chinese fleet slowly sailed out of Osaka, a Japanese sailing ship sailed out of the port of Osaka and headed straight to the west.
"Oh, I finally escaped. It wasn't easy!"
It was not until Osaka disappeared from sight that Kodama Gentaro, who was sitting on the boat, breathed a sigh of relief.
As an army officer, he is really depressed!
When Tokugawa Shigemasa rebelled last year, he went to the Osaka Garrison as an adjutant to quell the rebellion. He was wounded on the battlefield. When he returned to Osaka to recuperate, nearly 8,000 officers and soldiers of the Osaka Garrison actually surrendered directly!
The Kumamoto Garrison has held out for more than a year and is still stubbornly resisting Saigo Takamori's attacks. It was they who tied down Saigo Takamori's steps, but the Osaka Garrison surrendered directly!
Faced with the reality of the army's surrender, even if Kodama wanted to resist, he was powerless! In the past few months, Captain Kodama Gentaro, who was unwilling to join the bandits and could not escape, turned himself into a bathhouse worker. He worked for several months to save enough money for the boat fare.
The reason why he fell into such a state was that he fled from the military camp hospital in such a hurry that he did not take a penny with him. Otherwise, he would have escaped long ago.
It took several months of hard work to finally earn enough money to leave Osaka.
"What a bunch of unreliable Osaka profiteers!"
In the past few months, he has been wondering why those people surrendered so cleanly. Could it be that they colluded with the Tokugawa family?
Of course not.
It all comes down to one reason: those people in Osaka are simply a group of profit-seeking businessmen.
They would never sacrifice their lives for the country. When faced with life-threatening situations, the first thing they think of is to surrender and save their own lives first.
"What a bunch of incompetent guys!"
While sighing in his heart, Kodama Gentaro looked towards the west.
"Hiroshima, since the Ming army has intervened, the government will definitely rebuild the Hiroshima garrison there. It's the perfect time for me to go there now!"
Kodama Gentaro looked at Hiroshima with anticipation on his face. In his opinion, this was the key moment for him to demonstrate his personal abilities...
In this way, the wheel of history is unknowingly moving towards an unknown direction. No one knows where its wheel will go. The only thing that is certain is that now, in this world, in February 1875, the world has been completely changed by the sudden emergence of the Ming Dynasty. Not only has the fate of countries been changed, but the fate of many people has also been profoundly changed.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world.
The sea water here is as blue as sapphire, and the slowly rising and falling waves are full of flashing light under the sunlight. Looking around, it seems that the sight can reach infinity.
There was no land or island within sight, and the vastness of the Pacific Ocean was clearly visible. At this time, a fleet consisting of seven warships, troop transports, and coal ships was sailing at full speed, with the big Ming sun and moon flag on the mast fluttering in the sea breeze.
This was an expedition led by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang himself. Leading the way was the armored cruiser "Taiyuan", which rammed its bow and cut through the blue sea, leaving a scissor-shaped white wave behind it. The "Linhai" following closely behind once again cut through the sea like a pair of scissors.
The fleet has been on the march for ten days. During the past ten days, the fleet has been heading west. According to the plan, the fleet will sail directly to Japan, and the fuel replenishment along the way will be carried out by coal ships.
After all, reinforcements are like putting out a fire, so it is naturally impossible for them to walk slowly on the road.
On the speeding "Linhai" armored cruiser, naval officer trainee Cheng Daqi once again gazed at the sea. His seemingly calm eyes were still somewhat excited. This was his first ocean voyage. According to the tradition of the Ming Royal Navy, naval cadets were required to make a round-the-world voyage. However, because of the fleet expedition, he and his classmates got the opportunity to go on the expedition with the fleet.
Such opportunities are rare. After all, for naval soldiers, war is the best classroom.
"After this battle, we will almost graduate!"
Already 19 years old, he was eager to show his prowess on the battlefield. Of course, like all soldiers, he also longed to receive medals, even if it was just the most ordinary medal of loyalty and bravery.
Medals are what every Ming soldier desires. The Medal of Loyalty and Bravery is the most ordinary and common one, but it is also a symbol of honor.
honor!
Only when you are in the army of the Ming Dynasty can you know what honor is! If you were in the Qing Dynasty, I guess all you would think about now is wealth and glory, high positions and generous salaries.
But here he learned what honor is and what a soldier's responsibility is!
Honor and responsibility are what soldiers pursue!
Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. Before he turned around, he heard the person speaking.
"Cheng Daqi, hurry up and pack up."
Cheng Daqi turned around and saw the first mate. Just as he was about to salute, he felt his heart in his throat when he heard his next words.
"His Majesty wants to see you!"
What?
Your Majesty wants to see me...
Why? Although Cheng Daqi had many questions in his mind, in fact, Emperor Zhu wanted to see him, but it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision.
He was chatting with Li Fengzhi on the bridge before. When he heard that there was an international student sent by Governor Li among the cadets standing on the side, he immediately became interested. When he learned that his name was Cheng Daqi, Emperor Zhu wanted to meet him.
Cheng Daqi is not very famous in history. He was one of the first group of Chinese children to study in the United States. He participated in the Sino-French War and later in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. In both cases, the same ship sank and his entire army was wiped out.
But now his fate has changed a little. He did not go to the United States to study like in another world, but came to the Ming Dynasty. He studied naval affairs in the Ming Dynasty, and there will be no more Sino-French naval battles and Sino-Japanese War of 1894 in the future.
Soon, Cheng Daqi, who was extremely excited, arrived on the bridge. When he saw His Majesty in a naval uniform, he immediately stood at attention and saluted.
"Student Cheng Daqi meets the principal!"
Emperor Zhu was not only the principal of the Army School, but also the principal of the Naval School. There is no doubt that all the army and naval officers are disciples of the emperor!
This level is high enough!
Of course, this is also the tradition of various countries in this era. At least the emperors and kings of various countries are the supreme commanders of the army, and Emperor Zhu is not only the commander-in-chief, but also the principal. After all, there is a tradition in China that "once a teacher, always a father."
After briefly asking about Cheng Daqi's schoolwork and learning that he had been among the top three in the grade for several consecutive years, Emperor Zhu thought for a while, then looked at the young man in front of him and asked.
"If you have the chance, would you like to stay in the Royal Navy?"
What?
Facing the emperor's sudden question, Cheng Daqi was a little confused. The school instructor Ding Yunheng standing nearby smiled.
"Daqi, His Majesty is asking if you are willing to become a citizen of the Ming Dynasty and a member of the Royal Navy!"
This is an invitation from the emperor!
Anyone would probably be flattered and accept the invitation with joy. After all, the emperor's invitation means that their future military career will be easier than others, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe it as a meteoric rise to the top.
But faced with such an opportunity, Cheng Daqi was a little hesitant. He pursed his lips and answered respectfully.
"Principal, I was sent by the Governor-General to study the navy in Ming Dynasty because the powerful Western ships and cannons are rampant in our seas, seizing our rights and interests and humiliating our dignity. We have thousands of miles of seas but no defense, so I need to study in Ming Dynasty. Ming Dynasty has a strong and modern navy, while China has neither armored warships nor a modern navy! As a Chinese naval soldier, how can I abandon my military duties? So I hope to return to China and defend China's seas. This is also my responsibility as a soldier."
When saying this, Cheng Daqi felt a little nervous. After all, the rejection came from the emperor... This was an imperial edict!
According to the tradition of the Qing Dynasty, could the emperor's order be disobeyed? If you disobeyed the order, you would lose your head.
Although he understood this, he could not give up the responsibility in his heart. Well, now that he had said it, let it be.
Facing his answer, he looked at the young man in front of him seriously. At that moment, he seemed to understand why in another world, in that era full of humiliation and constant war, those overseas students were willing to return to their motherland. The reason why they went back was actually very simple - responsibility.
After looking seriously at the young man in front of him, Emperor Zhu laughed.
"Well, you are worthy of being my student! A soldier's duty is to defend the country! Come, Officer Li."
Emperor Zhu said to the attendant beside him.
"Take a photo for us! Since we can't stay in Daming anymore, let's take a photo together. It can be regarded as a memory. Daqi, I believe that you will become a great man one day!"
(End of this chapter)
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